Scientific Family
Poaceae
Synonyms
Agrostis aenea, A.alaskana, A.ampla, A.asperifolia, A.exarata ssp. minor, Agrostis exarata var. minor (see USDA for more)
Other common names
spiked bent
spike red top
western bentgrass
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
Yes
Grass Description
Origin
Native
Season
Warm
Moist soils along streams and in canyons and meadows.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
10000
General Description
Tufted perennial, sometimes rhizomatous but not stoloniferous with stems up to 40 inches tall, erect or drooping at the base. Leaves mostly basal below the middle of the stems.
Tall bunchgrass, may be rhizomatous; blades flat or folded, 2 to 8 inches long; ligules 1/16 to 5/16 inch long and lacerate; seedhead spikelike, short appressed branches bear one-flowered spikelets to the base; glumes nearly equal.
Grass type
Perennial bunchgrass
Rhizomes
Yes
Stolons
No
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
No
Bushy - highly branched
No
Height with Seedheads
Greater than 36 inches
Seedhead Structure
Branched - contracted
Seedhead droops
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
October
Flower Characteristics
Flowers per Spikelet
One-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
Less than 1/4 inch
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
Flower and Seedhead Notes
Seedhead is a dense slender spike, bearing spikelets to the base. Seedhead is 4 to 10 inches tall with branches that are appressed or ascending. Spikelets bear a single fertile floret and are greenish or purplish.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blade is hairy
Yes
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Flat
Folded
Blades are ascending to spreading up to 8 inches long, 1/4 inch wide. Blade margins are flat or folded inward. Leaf blades are mostly smooth but may be hairy or rough.
Sheath is hairy
Yes
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
No
Ligule
Membranous
Auricles
No
Spike bentgrass is highly palatable and rated as good forage for cattle, horses, and elk, and fair to good for sheep and deer.